Question 1

Can I bring a group?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can, but you must contact us via our Groups Page. To preserve the safety of all of our guests, we reserve the right to reject admission to large parties who have not coordinated with us prior to arrival. We do not host group trips on weekends.

Question 2

Can we bring our dog? What if it's an emotional support animal?

Accepted Answer

In accordance with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, we cannot allow dogs or other pets on the farm. This policy includes emotional support animals. You will be asked to leave your dog in the car or take it off-premises. We do not have any dog-friendly areas on the property.

Question 3

Can I picnic?

Accepted Answer

Thanks for asking! We ask that you make your purchases and head to your car. Picnicking is not allowed in the orchard, which is a food production area. We don't have the space to allow picnicking by our sales room or in the parking lot. Provence at the Orchard has some delicious treats to take with you on your way, though. Check them out and we bet you'll be back for more.

There are several beautiful parks in Chester where you can picnic before or after visiting the farm. Some of our favorites are Hacklebarney State Park, Grove Street Park and Chubb Park.

Grab some donuts and cider and keep your outside day going at the park!

Question 4

What are your policies and safety related to COVID?

Accepted Answer

We follow all current CDC and state guidance. We encourage our employees to be vaccinated, and our customers, too! That said, we are an entirely outdoor facility and there’s lots of room to spread out.

Question 5

Are there bathrooms?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have portable bathrooms available (some of which are handicapped accessible), as well as hand sanitizer stations and a hand wash station by the retail store.

Question 6

Can I bring a photographer or take professional photos?

Accepted Answer

Yes, everyone needs to pay admission. Photographers will pay a site fee, see our photography (https://www.riamedefarm.com/photography)page. For safety and security reasons, large parties (wedding parties, other large groups) must contact us via our groups (https://www.riamedefarm.com/groups)page prior to arrival.

Question 7

Can I bring my drone?

Accepted Answer

No drones are allowed on the property.

Question 8

Can I bring my own picking pole?

Accepted Answer

For safety reasons, we cannot allow customers to bring these items. During certain times of the season, we may have picking poles available.

Question 9

Can I bring my own bags?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We encourage you to minimize waste and re-use bags. We will have heavy-duty reusable picking bags for purchase at admission, if you don’t remember to bring your own.

Question 10

Can I bring my own wagon?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you may.

Question 11

Can my kids bring a frisbee/football/etc. to throw around while we pick?

Accepted Answer

Please do not bring balls, frisbees, and the like. You’ll be asked to leave these items in your car. Also, do not throw apples or any items found on the farm.

Question 12

Is the orchard handicapped accessible?

Accepted Answer

Respecting all that is nature, our orchards are wheelchair accessible in dry conditions. Please note that some areas of the farm are located on hills, and terrain may not always be even.

Question 13

Why are some sections of trees closed for picking?

Accepted Answer

We close off areas of the orchard to prevent people from picking apples that aren’t ripe yet. While these apples may look ready, each variety has its own ripening time and we’re constantly taste testing them to make sure that we only open them for picking when they’re 100% ready!

Question 14

What should I bring to cut my pumpkins off the vine?

Accepted Answer

We recommend heavy-duty kitchen shears or pruning clippers (and closed-toe shoes in the pumpkin patch).

Question 15

Must I buy everything that I - or my family - pick?

Accepted Answer

Yes. “Pick all you want, buy all you pick.” Accompanying adults are responsible for what children pick. Please only touch what you will be picking & paying for.

Question 16

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept cash and credit cards of all types. We also accept SNAP/EBT. We do not currently accept WIC.

Question 17

Is the hay wagon free?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When conditions and weather permit, we run farm wagon rides on weekends and holidays, which are included in your orchard admission. Please be patient as you wait to board and follow our staff’s instructions. Plan your trip appropriately, and also feel free to follow the signs and walk to where we're picking today.

Question 18

How far do I have to walk to the apples?

Accepted Answer

It depends. It's about 1/3 of a mile from our orchard entrance to the furthest point in our back orchard. Everything else is closer, and depending on the time of the season, our Red and Golden Delicious are only 30 feet from the orchard gate.

Question 19

How much is admission to the orchard? How much are apples?

Accepted Answer

The daily price of a farm pass varies depending on whether it’s a weekend or weekday, and produce availability. Please visit our ticketing page (https://www.riamedefarm.com/pricing)for daily admission rates.

Question 20

Are you organic?

Accepted Answer

We are not an organic farm. We have found that the most sustainable growing approach is to utilize the growing principles of integrated pest management (IPM). We work closely with Rutgers’ Agriculture Extension Service in the implementation of this approach. IPM allows us to use cultural, biological, and sometimes chemical means to control pests and diseases. Since we are in the northeast where the weather is quite unpredictable, and the frequent rainfall lends itself to disease and pest proliferation, having this flexibility is crucial for us to ensure that we grow marketable produce.

It is a common misconception among Americans that “organic” means “chemical free”. This is simply not the case. The only difference is that organic pesticides are organically, not synthetically, derived. We use both organic and synthetic options at our farm. Giving ourselves this wide range of options allows us to spray small amounts of product as infrequently as possible. When you only have organic pesticides to work with, you will eventually cause resistance issues with the diseases and pests, meaning you have to spray more and more of the same pesticide to get the same result. This increase in application leads to more labor inputs, more fossil fuels being burned, and to the land being generally less productive. The IPM approach allows us to grow our produce in the safest, most efficient, and most sustainable way possible.